Connector for the anode socket of a cathode ray tube



March 22, 1955 G. WINTR1SS CONNECTOR FOR THE ANODE SOCKET OF A CATHODE RAY TUBE Filed Aug. 26, 1954 United States Patent CONNECTOR FOR THE ANODE SOCKET OF A CATHODE RAY TUBE George Wintriss, Carversville, Pa., assignor to Industrial Hardware Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 26, 1954, Serial No. 452,250

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-252) This invention relates to connectors for the anode socket of a cathode ray tube.

Cathode ray tubes have gone into wide use in television receivers. The anode is supplied with a very high anode potential, and for this purpose a short length of well insulated flexible conductor extends from a high voltage power supply on the chassis to a circular or button-like socket secured to and forming a part of the tube. The end of the conductor is provided with a clip to be received in the socket, the clip being soldered or otherwise secured to the free end of the flexible conductor.

The attachment of the conductor to the clip, and the connection of the clip to the socket, have both proved troublesome and unsatisfactory, and a primary object of the present invention is to generally improve the connector structure. A more particular object is to provide a strong physical connection between the clip and the connector, independently of the electrical connection therebetween. Still another object is to improve the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the connection between the clip and the socket. A further object is to avoid the need for a harness or retainer for the anode connector.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the connector elements, and their relation one to another and to the socket of'the cathode ray tube, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the relation of the connector to the cathode ray tube of a typical television receiver;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one end of the connector with its clip;

Fig. 3 illustrates the relation between the clip and the tube socket; and 1 Fig. 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the cathode ray tube 12 has an anode socket 14, which is connected to a high voltage power supply 16 forming a part of a television receiver chassis, by means of a connector generally designated 20. The connector is a short length of insulated conductor, and referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the metallic portion 22 of the conductor is preferably flexible stranded wire. The insulation 24 is comparatively thick and of good quality, inasmuch as the anode voltage in a television receiver may be very high.

In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the clip, generally designated 26, is bent up out of solid wire. This wire is preferably relatively stiff and resilient, for example, music wire. The middle part 28 of the wire is bent to form a circular loop of such diameter that it may be slid over the insulation 24 of the conductor. The remainder of the clip forms two divergent legs 30 and 32. These legs are preferably so directed as to form a forked extension of the conductor 20. From another viewpoint it may be said that the divergent legs 30 and 32 lie in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the conductor, or differently expressed, approximately perpendicular to the plane of the middle part or loop 28. The free ends of the legs 30 and 32 are bent to form anchorage tips. As here shown they are bent in opposite directions, preferably at an angle less than 90, say 85, to

2,704,837 Patented Mar. 22, 1955 the legs, in order to form the outwardly projecting anchorage tips 34 and 36. The clip is preferably hot tin dipped.

The end 38 of the flexible stranded conductor projecting beyond the insulation 24 is electrically connected to the clip 26. More specifically, it is connected to one of the legs, in this case the leg 32. For this purpose the conductor may be preliminarily twisted about the leg 32. This twist is shown spread out at 40, but actually is close. It may then be welded, brazed or soldered to the leg. A touch of solder is indicated at 42, but in practice the solder forms a smooth rounded ball which envelopes and conceals the wire 40. However, the solder preferably does not include the other leg 30. With this arrangement the legs may be sprung together or apart without danger of spoiling the soldered connection.

On reflection it will be understood that the clip 26 is mechanically supported on the conductor 20 by means of the loop 28 alone. This physical connection of the parts is reinforced by the soldered connection, and by the twisting of the stranded conductor about one leg of the clip. There is a good electrical connection to the clip, and that electrical connection is not strained nor disturbed by any physical pull, which instead is absorbed at the loop 28.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that when the legs 30 and 32 are sprung together, as by squeezing them between ones fingers, they may be inserted in the socket 14, as shown by the broken line position 30 and 32. Because of the outward spring of the legs when released, and because of the shape of the bent tips of the legs, the clip establishes a good electrical connection, and in addition is strongly mechanically secured within the socket. If desired, a short length of soft tubular plastic insulation may be supplied with the connector, and this may he slid over the loop 28 and the convergent part of the legs, as shown by the tube 44 in Fig. 3. This sleeve is also shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 4, I there show a connector much the same as that previously described in having a main loop 128 bent about the insulation 124 of a high voltage conductor 120, and in having a pair of divergent legs 130 and 132 which form a forked extension of the conductor 120. Here again the ends of the legs are bent in opposite directions, to form tips 134 and 136. Also the exposed end 138 of the conductor is electrically connected to the clip, and more specifically, is twisted about one leg 132, and soldered thereto, as only fragmentarily suggested at 140. However, the construction of Fig. 4 differs in that the parts 146 and 148, instead of going directly into divergent legs, are bent transversely at the end of insulation 124, as shown at 150, 152. These parts straddle the stranded conductor 138, and are then bent to form the legs 130 and 132. Thus the physical mounting of the clip on the conductor is made more rigid than in the case of Fig. 2, but the latter construction is adequate, and preferred for simplicity of manufacture.

It will be understood that while not shown in Fig. 4, it too may be provided with a sleeve of flexible insulating plastic, which may be slid over the loop 128 and the convergent part of the legs 130 and 132.

The bend of the tips 34 and 36 (Fig. 2) relative to the legs 30 and 32 is at an angle which is at most ninety degrees, and preferably somewhat less than ninety degrees, say eighty-five degrees. The same applies to the tips 134 and 136 in Fig. 4. In consequence the clip will not be released from the socket except by intentionally manually compressing the legs of the clip together. A supporting harness or other retainer means has heretofore been employed to hold the anode connector in such a position that even if the connector is accidentally released from the socket it will not touch the chassis, for that would seriously endanger human life because of the very high voltage at the anode connector. With my new connector the attachment is so strong and dependable that no supporting harness is needed or used.

It is believed that the construction and method of use, as well as the advantages of my improved connector, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown Without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims. In-the claims the reference to the conductor being soldered to the clip is intended to also include equivalent forms of electrical connection such as welding, brazing, etc.

I claim:

1. A connector for the anode socket of a cathode ray tube, said connector comprising a short length of stiffly insulated high voltage conductor, and a clip bent up out of relatively stilf resilient solid wire, said clip having a middle part bent around the insulation of the conductor near one end of the insulation, most of the remainder of said clip forming two divergent legs so directed as to form a forked extension of such conductor, the free ends of said legs being bent in opposite directions to form outwardly bent tips, each tip being at an angle of 90 or less to its leg, one end of said conductor projecting beyond its insulation, and the said projecting end being electrically connected to said clip, the arrangement being such that the legs may be sprung together to permit insegtion of the tips in the anode socket of a cathode ray tu e.

2. A connector for the anode socket of a cathode ray tube, said connector comprising a short length of stifliy insulated high voltage conductor, and a clip bent up out of relatively stiff resilient solid wire, said clip having a middle part bent around the insulation of the conductor near one end of the insulation, most of the remainder of said clip forming two divergent legs so directed as to form a forked extension of said conductor, the free ends of said legs being bent in outwardly opposite directions to form outwardly bent tips lying in the plane of said legs, said plane being transverse to the plane of the middle part which is bent around the insulation of the conductor, the end of said conductor projecting beyond its insulation, and said projecting end being electrically connected to one only of said legs, the arrangement being such that the legs may be sprung together to permit insegtion of the tips in the anode socket of a cathode ray tu e.

3. A connector for the anode socket of a cathode ray tube, said connector comprising a short length of stifiiy insulated high voltage flexible stranded conductor, and a clip bent up out of relatively stiif resilient solid wire, said clip having a middle part bent around the insulation of the conductor near one end of the insulation, the remainder of said clip forming two divergent legs lying in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the conductor and transverse to the plane of the aforesaid middle part which is bent around the insulation, the free ends of said legs being bent in opposite directions to form outwardly bent tips, each tip being at an angle of 90 or less to its leg, the end of said flexible stranded conductor projecting beyond its insulation, and the said projecting end being twisted about and soldered to one leg of the clip, the arrangement being such that the legs may be sprung together to permit insertion of the tips in the anode socket of a cathode ray tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,878 Morhard Nov. 2, 1897 909,481 Tregoning Jan. 12, 1909 1,686,011 Kennington Oct. 2, 1928 2,250,647 Miller July 29, 1941 2,499,834 Phelps Mar. 7, 1950 

